This over-dependence on property taxes forces New Jersey municipalities to chase new development or “ratables,” and make their land use choices on unbalanced fiscal reasoning, spurring sprawl.
Planning and Governance
Summit Touches Key Causes of Sprawl
Thursday, October 31st, 2002Governor Sets Summit for October 22
Friday, October 11th, 2002New Jersey has yet to link meaningfully state spending to its State Plan, even though the Plan defines where growth will best benefit New Jersey’s economy and environment, as identified with participation from local governments.
NJ Out of Line in School Spending, Funding
Friday, August 16th, 2002New Jersey leads the class when it comes to spending per pupil, and in over-reliance on local property taxes to get the job done.
Affordable Housing and Sprawl
Friday, August 2nd, 2002Towns can indeed protect themselves from builders remedy suits. But it will take municipal, Administrative and Legislative leadership to stop sprawl and build affordable housing.
NJ Housing Even Less Affordable
Friday, May 17th, 2002Finding housing that’s priced within your means is tough for all New Jerseyans. For low- and moderate-income workers in New Jersey, it can be impossible.
Council Kicks Off April 23
Friday, April 19th, 2002The Smart Growth Council kicking off April 23 will “re-orient how the state looks at growth,” by integrating the State Plan into state spending policies and departmental regulations, according to Governor James E. McGreevey.
Property Tax System Broken, Too
Tuesday, March 26th, 2002The “dumb growth” that’s damaging New Jersey’s environment and hollowing out many older communities is driven in large measure by New Jersey’s broken property tax system. The over-reliance on property taxes forces communities to chase new development — even when the development doesn’t fit the community’s vision or character, adds to its traffic problems or eliminates its open space.
Leaders of the Pack
Monday, February 18th, 2002The nation’s most densely populated state took an important step toward curbing sprawl Jan. 31 with the creation of a Smart Growth Policy Council within the governor’s office. Made up of Cabinet heads and leaders of key state agencies, the council will meet bi-monthly or as needed.
New Taxes or No, Tax System Needs Repair
Friday, November 30th, 2001UNINTENDED TAX CONSEQUENCES As New Jersey’s leaders argued this week how best to live within state means without raising taxes, the Fund for New Jersey reported that nearly half of all state and local taxes collected in New Jersey come […]
New Priorities Call For Better Coordination, Oversight of Planning
Wednesday, October 31st, 2001NEW PLANNING PRIORITIES In the League of Women Voters’ debate, New Jersey’s Democratic candidate for Governor reaffirmed he would prohibit state spending that is inconsistent with New Jersey’s State Plan. The Republican candidate responded affirmatively as well for the first […]